Assembly for retaining a boot on a gliding board

ABSTRACT

An assembly for retaining a boot on a sports apparatus. The assembly includes a base, a disk having at least two elongated holes parallel to one another, and at least two screws each extending through an elongated hole. The assembly further includes a plate that is parallel to the disk, the plate sliding along the length of the elongated holes, at least two holes extending through the plate in its thickness, each screw extending through a hole of the plate, and retaining elements retaining the screws on the plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 0015372, filed Nov. 24, 2000, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority ofwhich is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an assembly for retaining a booton a sports apparatus, such as a gliding board.

[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

[0005] Assemblies of the aforementioned type are used in fields such asskiing, snowboarding, water skiing, snowshoeing, skateboarding, and thelike.

[0006] Generally speaking, a retaining assembly includes a base providedto receive the foot of a user or the sole of a boot. A disk serves toretain the base on the apparatus, the disk itself being retained on theapparatus by screws that extend through elongated holes of the disk thatextend into its thickness.

[0007] To mount the retaining assembly on the apparatus, or to adjustthe position of the assembly on the apparatus, the user generally mustscrew the screws successively into bushings, which are themselvesanchored in the apparatus.

[0008] The positioning of the screws in the bushings, through theelongated holes of the disk, takes times and requires a certain amountof skill. For each of the screws, it is necessary to successively locatethe bushing, position the screws, and then turn the screw until it isseated.

[0009] The mounting and adjusting operations are relativelytime-consuming and tedious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the invention in particular is to facilitate thepositioning of an assembly for retaining a boot on a gliding board.

[0011] To this end, the invention proposes an assembly for retaining aboot on a sports apparatus, the assembly including a base provided toreceive the sole of the boot, a disk provided to retain the base on theapparatus, the disk having at least two elongated holes parallel, orsubstantially parallel to one another, which extend through the disk inits thickness, and at least two screws each extending through anelongated hole.

[0012] The retaining assembly according to the invention furtherincludes a plate that is parallel, or substantially parallel, to thedisk, the plate sliding along the length of the elongated holes, atleast two holes extending through the plate in its thickness, each screwextending through a hole of the plate, and retaining means retaining thescrews on the plate.

[0013] Thus, when the user displaces a screw along an elongated hole, inorder to position the screw in front of a bushing of the board, all ofthe screws are displaced simultaneously and are each positioned in frontof a bushing of the board.

[0014] The user positions all of the screws in a single manipulation. Asa result, the mounting and adjusting operations are less time-consumingand simpler. The positioning of the assembly for retaining a boot on theboard is easier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will bebetter understood from the description that follows, with reference tothe annexed drawings showing, by way of non-limiting examples, how theinvention can be embodied, and in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a retaining assemblyaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional and partial view of theretaining assembly according to FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the disk and of the plateof the retaining assembly according to the first embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section view taken along the line IV-IVof FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective, exploded partial view of a retainingassembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional and partial view of theretaining assembly according to FIG. 5; and

[0022]FIG. 7 is a top view of a plate according to a third embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The first example, or embodiment, of the invention is describedhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

[0024] As seen in FIG. 1, a retaining assembly 1 makes it possible toretain a boot, not shown, on a sports apparatus 2. The latter is shownin the form of a board. The board can be a snowboard, for example.

[0025] In a known fashion, the retaining assembly 1 includes a base 3that extends along a longitudinal direction L, between a rear end 4 anda front end 5. An upper surface 6 of the base 3 is provided to receivethe sole of the boot. A lower surface 7 of the base 3 is provided to beabove the board 2. The upper surface 6 is transversely demarcated, atleast in part, by lateral flanges 8, 9. An arch 10 connects the flanges8, 9 to one another toward the rear end 4.

[0026] The base 3, flanges 8, 9, and arch 10 are shown in the form of aunitary piece made, for example, of a plastic material. However, onecould provide for the flanges 8, 9 and the arch 10 to be attached on thebase by any means, such as adhesive(s), screws, and/or the like.

[0027] Although not necessary according to the invention, pads 11, 12,13 are arranged so as to project with respect to the upper surface 6 ofthe base 3. These pads are made preferably of a flexible plasticmaterial, such as silicone, polyurethane, or the like, for absorbingimpacts.

[0028] According to the embodiment shown, the boot is retained on thebase 3 by means shown in the form of straps 14, 15. These straps can beopened, closed, tightened or loosened by the user, using any means knownto a person with ordinary skill in the art.

[0029] The means for retaining the boot could be different. For example,one can provide one or several latches fixed to the base and ananchoring member fixed to the boot, the latter being removably housed inthe latch.

[0030] A rear support element 16 is arranged in the area of the arch 10so that the user can press toward the rear of the assembly 1 with thelower leg. The support element 16 is journalled along a substantiallytransverse axis, so that it can be folded forwardly for storage.

[0031] A disk 20 is provided to retain the assembly 1 on the board 2.

[0032] To this end, the disk 20 is obtained in the form of a lowercylinder 21 overlaid by a shoulder 22. The disk is nested, from theupper surface 6, in a circular opening 23 of the base 3. The outer shapeof the disk 20 and the shape of the circular opening 23 arecomplementary, the opening 23 being demarcated in its lower portion by ashoulder 24.

[0033] The shoulders 22, 24 preferably have a parallelepipedic crosssection, but they could have another shape such as that of a truncatedcone, a rounded shape, or the like.

[0034] Preferably, the shoulders 22, 24, respectively, have peripheraltoothings that are nested in one another in order to obtain a rotationalobstacle connection of the base 3 with respect to the disk 20.Alternatively, a frictional connection could be provided, in whichtoothings are omitted.

[0035] The disk 20 itself is detachably affixed to the board 2 by ameans shown in the form of four screws 30, 31, 32, 33 that extendthrough four elongated holes 34, 35, 36, 37, respectively, of the disk20 in its thickness.

[0036] The four screws are screwed into the board 2, for example, intothreaded bushes, or bushings, 38, 39, 40, 41, which are themselvesanchored in the board.

[0037] The four bushes are each located at the top of a square, havingsides 40 millimeters (mm) long, for example, or approximately 40 mmlong.

[0038] So that the disk 20 can be displaced translationally with respectto the board 2, the four elongated holes 34, 35, 36, 37 are parallel toone another, aligned in pairs, and across from one another in pairs.

[0039] All of the elongated holes preferably have the same length, whichcan be between about 20 mm and 30 mm.

[0040] A different number of screws and elongated holes could beprovided. For example, three screws could each be arranged at the vertexof an equilateral triangle. In this case, the disk would have threeelongated holes and the bushes would be arranged in triangle.

[0041] According to the invention, a plate 50 is arranged so as to beparallel to the disk 20, such that it can slide along the length of theelongated holes.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the plate 50 is housed in a cavity 58provided in the lower portion of the disk 20. The cavity 58 has asubstantially flat bottom 59 that is parallel to the base 60 of the disk20. Preferably, the contour of the cavity 58 has a parallelepipedicshape whose short side is substantially equal to the side of the plate50, and whose long side is greater than the side of the plate 50 by alength at least equal to the length of the elongated holes, and orientedalong the length of the elongated holes 34, 35, 36, 37.

[0043] The plate 50 is provided to slide in the cavity 58 in the mannerof a drawer.

[0044] The plate 50 is shown in the form of a square sheet, bored withfour holes 51, 52, 53, 54, spread to the four corners of a square. Thesquare spreading of the holes is the same as the square spreading of thebushes 38, 39, 40, 41 of the board.

[0045] Other shapes for the plate could be used, such as that of across, disk, frame, or the like, for a same distribution of the holes.

[0046] The plate 50 can be made of metal or plastic, for example, andcan have a thickness comprised preferably between 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm, orapproximately within the range of 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm.

[0047] As can be understood with reference to FIG. 2, the plate 50 andscrews 30, 31, 32, 33 are configured so that the plate 50 retains thescrews on the disk 20.

[0048] For example, the screw 30 has a head 55 extended downwardly by asmooth portion 56, then a threaded portion 57. The diameter of thesmooth portion 56 is smaller than the diameter of the hole 51 of theplate 50 through which it passes.

[0049] The diameter of the hole 51 is substantially equal to thediameter of the threaded portion 57.

[0050] It is thus possible to mount the screw 30 on the plate 50 byforcibly screwing it until the smooth portion 56 reaches the hole 51.After screwing, the threaded portion 57 is located on the other side ofthe plate 50 with respect to the head 55 and with respect to the disk20.

[0051] The other screws 31, 32, 33 are retained on the plate 50 in thesame manner.

[0052] Other means could be provided to maintain the screws on the plate50, such as a radial pin extending through the screw body.

[0053] As seen in FIG. 4, in the area of the elongated holes 34, 35, thescrews 30, 31 extend through both the elongated holes of the disk 20 andthe holes 51, 52 of the plate 50, respectively, so as to be screwed intothe bushes 38, 39 of the board 2.

[0054] Thus, when mounting the retaining assembly 1 on the board 2, thescrews are associated with the disk 20, and the positioning of one screwabove a bush simultaneously brings about the positioning of the otherscrews, each above its respective bush. The plate 50 synchronizes thetranslational displacements of the screws in the elongated holes.

[0055] As a result, the mounting of the assembly 1 on the board 2 isadvantageously quicker.

[0056] If the number of the screws had been different, the number ofholes in the plate 50 would also have been different. In the case wherethree screws are in a delta-arrangement, three holes of the plate are ina delta-arrangement.

[0057] The second example of embodiment of the invention is presentedhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. For reasons of convenience,only the portions that are necessary for understanding are described.

[0058] A retaining assembly, not shown, is detachably affixed to aboard, not shown, by a disk 70.

[0059] In a known manner, the disk 70 preferably has a lower cylinder 71overlaid by a shoulder 72. The disk is provided to be nested in the baseof the retaining assembly. Four screws 73, 74, 75, 76 retain the disk 70on the board and, to this end, extend through elongated holes 77, 78,79, 80.

[0060] Once again, a different arrangement and/or a different number ofelongated holes and screws could be provided.

[0061] According to the invention, a plate 90 is arranged so as to beparallel to the disk 70 and above the latter, so that it can slide alongthe length of the oblong holes 77, 78, 79, 80.

[0062] The plate 90 is shown in the form of a square sheet, bored withfour holes 91, 92, 93, 94 spread to the four corners of a square. Hereagain, other forms for the plate could be used.

[0063] The plate 90 is housed in a cavity 95 provided in the upperportion of the disk 70. The cavity 95 has a substantially flat bottom 96that is parallel to the upper surface 97 of the disk 70.

[0064] Preferably, the contour of the cavity 95 has a parallelepipedicshape. The plate 90 can slide in the cavity 95 in the manner of adrawer.

[0065] To retain the disk 70 on the board, the screws 73, 74, 75, 76extend through the holes 91, 92, 93, 94 of the plate 90 and theelongated holes 77, 78, 79, 80 of the disk, respectively.

[0066] Here again, the plate 90 synchronizes the displacement of thescrews along the elongated holes.

[0067] Preferably, retaining means are provided so that each screwremains naturally in a hole of the plate 90. These means are describedfor the screw 73, for example, by means of FIG. 6.

[0068] The screw 73 successively has a head 100, a smooth portion 101,and a threaded portion 102. The diameter of the smooth portion 101 issmaller than the diameter of the lower portion 103 of the hole 91 of theplate 90 in which it passes.

[0069] The diameter of the portion 103 of the hole 91 is substantiallyequal to the diameter of the threaded portion 102.

[0070] It is thus possible to mount the screw 73 on the pate 90 byforcibly screwing it into the hole. After screwing, the threaded portion102 is located on the other side of the plate 90 with respect to thehead 100. The other screws 74, 75, 76 are retained on the plate 90 inthe same manner.

[0071] The plate 90 has four bosses, such as the boss 104 for the screw73 on the lower surface 105 of the plate. This makes it possible tohouse the head of each screw in a cavity on the side of the uppersurface 106 of the plate.

[0072] Here again, other means could be provided to maintain the screwson the plate 90.

[0073] The third example of embodiment of the invention is presentedhereinafter by means of FIG. 7. For reasons of convenience, only theportions necessary for understanding are described.

[0074] This example could be the first or the second, for which theplate has been modified with respect to its structure. The plate,designated by the reference numeral 120, still has holes 121, 122, 123,124 for the passage of the screws. Each hole communicates with theperiphery of the plate via a slit 125, 126, 127, 128. The plate 120 canbe made of a plastic or metallic material whose thickness can becomprised between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm, or approximately therebetween. Eachslit enables a deformation of the plate in the area of the hole to whichit is connected. It is thus possible to allow a screw to pass byapplying an axial force, without rotating it.

[0075] Generally speaking, the invention is embodied by all the meansand from all the materials known to a person with ordinary skill in theart.

[0076] The invention is not limited to the particularly described andillustrated examples heretofore presented, and includes all of thetechnical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims thatfollow.

[0077] In particular, the synchronizing plate does not need to be housedin a cavity of the disk.

[0078] The synchronizing plate could be made of a plastic material, withdeformable bores in the area of the holes for the passage of the screws.

[0079] Furthermore, one could provide to arrange elongated holesdirectly in the base, without using a disk.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for retaining a boot on a sportsapparatus, said assembly comprising: a base provided to receive the soleof the boot, a disk provided to retain the base on the apparatus, thedisk having at least two elongated holes, parallel to one another, whichextend through the disk in its thickness, and at least two screws eachextending through an elongated hole, and a plate that is parallel to thedisk, the plate sliding along the length of the oblong holes, at leasttwo holes extending through the plate in its thickness, each screwextending through a hole of the plate, retaining means retaining thescrews on the plate.
 2. A retaining assembly according to claim 1,wherein the plate is located on the lower portion of the disk.
 3. Aretaining assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate is housed ina cavity of the disk.
 4. A retaining assembly according to claim 3,wherein the plate is square, and wherein the contour of the cavity isparallelepipedic.
 5. A retaining assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe disk has four elongated holes, parallel to one another, aligned inpairs, across from one another in pairs, and wherein the plate has fourholes spread to the four corners of a square.